Arraignment Court Public Defender - Contract Position

City of Mesa; Mesa (AZ); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Part time

Job summary

The City of Mesa Municipal Court maintains a pool of contracted Public Defenders to serve as advisory counsel for indigent defendants in the Arraignment Court. Defenders consult with clients before arraignments and handle plea negotiations and related proceedings. These positions are contracted and not eligible for City benefits.

All applications are reviewed, and qualified candidates are forwarded for consideration every two weeks; offers may occur with short notice depending on pool needs.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited school of law.
• 1–3 years of experience as a criminal law attorney.

Responsibilities

• Advise clients on legal rights and options.
• Consult with clients before and during arraignment.
• Argue release conditions; negotiate plea agreements.
• Represent clients at change of plea proceedings and sentencings.
• Provide advisory counsel to indigent defendants in the Arraignment Court.

Skills

Criminal law experience

Education

Graduation from an accredited school of law

Job description

This recruitment is used to establish a pool of contracted Public Defenders for the Arraignment Court of the Mesa Municipal Court. All applications will be reviewed and qualified candidates will be forwarded to the Public Defender's Office for consideration every two weeks. Contracted positions will be filled as-needed, and candidates from the pool may be contacted at any time, sometimes with short notice.

About the Position

The City of Mesa Municipal Court has an Arraignment Court for out-of-custody defendants, and the City provides Public Defenders to serve as Advisory counsel to indigent defendants in this court. Public Defenders in the Arraignment Court personally consult with clients prior to and during arraignment sessions; argue release conditions; negotiate plea agreements; represent clients at change of plea proceedings and sentencings; and otherwise represent the client's best interests. Public Defenders provide each client with advice and information regarding the client's legal rights and obligations, explaining the practical implications of the client's possible choices. Arraignment Court business hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Public Defenders are contracted positions and are not eligible for City of Mesa employee benefits.

Minimum Qualifications Required

Graduation from an accredited school of law and good (1 - 3 years) experience as a criminal law attorney.

Special Requirements

Active membership in the Arizona State Bar Association at the time of application. For this position, an individual receiving a conditional offer of contracted agreement for counsel services from the City of Mesa must pass a background investigation through the City of Mesa Police Department, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and Federal Bureau of Investigation prior to commencing employment with the City of Mesa.

Preferred/Desirable Qualifications

Bilingual (Spanish/English) skills.